Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 387 Demons and Monsters
"Shuozhou..."

Xue Sui held a teacup in his hands, his fingertips slightly cool, and listened intently with a deep gaze.

In a daze, Ping Le's beautiful yet distorted face appeared before my eyes.

"It's her..." Her voice turned cold as she looked up and asked, "That Scarface Zhang, have you caught him?"

“Dead.” Li Zhao said calmly, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

"The night before his whereabouts were found, he accidentally fell into the water. When his body was recovered, he had several unredeemed banknote stubs in his pocket..."

He paused, then added, "From Tongbao Money Shop."

"Tongbao Money Shop?" Xue Sui interjected, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“That’s an asset under Prince Duan’s name.”

Seeing her expression when she mentioned Li Huan, and how well she knew about his businesses, Li Zhao frowned and his eyes darkened: "You seem to know a lot about them."

Seeing his expression, Xue Sui chuckled softly, "Ping Le is quite clean in his dealings these days, and he's hidden his true colors very well. He's much more capable than that Prince Wei, Li Yan."

Li Zhao reached out his hand, across the small table, and placed his palm on the cool back of her hand, gently holding it.

"You're not fully recovered yet, don't trouble yourself with these dirty matters." He gazed at her, his voice slowly lowering. "Tell me, did you come to see your mother, or did you come specifically to bring me beef? Hmm?"

The play of light and shadow made his handsome eyes appear exceptionally warm and gentle.

But his gaze lingered, as if trying to see into one's heart.

After a moment of silence, Xue Sui said slowly, "I remember Your Highness said that you would personally style my hair? Does that still stand?"

Li Zhao was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.

“Of course it counts.” He leaned closer, gently lifting her veil with his other hand, gazing at the layer of gray-black short hair on top of her head with an incredibly tender look in his eyes.

"What did Old Man Lu say to you, Ping An? Are you here as a mediator?"

Xue Sui did not deny it, and said calmly, "The old prime minister also meant well."

Li Zhao didn't speak, but took her slightly cool hand and slowly pulled her closer.

Her tall figure enveloped her in a halo of light, her fingertips calloused and warm.

"I understand his thoughts. But I don't feel at ease sending someone else to fight the battle of Yongding."

Xue Sui let him hold her hand, neither pulling away nor trying to stop him.

Instead, he slowly pulled something out from the inside of the cloak.

It was a short sword still in its sheath.

The scabbard is made of dark brown sharkskin, without any elaborate patterns, only a luster worn by time, simple and understated. The handle is wrapped with a non-slip cord, and two small ancient seal characters are engraved at the end – "Guard the Heart".

"Take it with you."

“I am not lacking in weapons.” Li Zhao raised his eyebrows.

"It's not for you to kill enemies," Xue Sui said softly, yet with a deep and resolute air. "It's my heartfelt wish."

Mind?

A surge of scalding heat rushed to my heart.

Li Zhao felt a tightness in his throat, released her hand, and took the dagger.

It feels slightly heavy and cool to the touch.

"What a fine knife!" He gripped the scabbard, slowly drew it out a short distance, and admired it closely.

Seeing the amazement in his eyes, Xue Sui smiled faintly.

“This was given to me by my master when I came of age, to teach me to guard my heart and stay on the right path. Now, I present it to Your Highness. Your Highness should keep it close to your body, not only for self-defense, but also... to guard your heart.”

“Peace…” Li Zhao’s eyes welled up with tears.

"I thought you came to persuade me."

“I know you absolutely must go to Yongding.” Xue Sui looked at him, his eyes clear and bright.

"Your Highness's journey is not out of reckless courage, but because you deeply understand that if Yongding is lost, the people's hearts will crumble. Once the people's hearts are crumbled, even a million-strong army will find it difficult to reverse the decline. As the Crown Prince, Your Highness is boosting morale not for personal gain, but for the sake of all the people of the land..."

Li Zhao was stunned.

The woman before him had a serene demeanor, yet she saw him clearly and thoroughly.

He took her hand and held it tightly.

"How fortunate Li Zhao is to have found such a kindred spirit! But... I cannot accept this knife."

This knife carries her master's instructions and is a personal treasure she keeps close to her body. It is more precious than any love words or vows, and he must cherish it and not take it for himself.

Li Zhao closed the scabbard, handed it back, and a mischievous glint in his lips.

"Even without this sword, I will remain steadfast in my loyalty to Ping An."

Xue Sui glared at him with a half-smile, teasingly saying, "The battlefield is dangerous, and beauties are blind. What if they take a fancy to Your Highness..."

“There’s no chance.” Li Zhao leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on her eyes, firmly grasping her slender shoulders, pressing his forehead against the top of her head, gently stroking it, his voice hoarse.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Besides, I have a backup plan..."

Backhand?

Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat. "Your Highness means...?"

He chuckled softly, then spread his arms and pulled her tightly into his embrace without a word. The force was so great that it seemed he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"I have my own plans, trust me!"

His voice was deep and firm, reaching straight to the heart.

Listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, Xue Sui sensed a hint of conspiracy and scheming in his clear, gentle breath...

My tense nerves suddenly relaxed at that moment.

"Okay." She took the knife, put it back into Li Zhao's arms, looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

"Come back alive and do my hair."

Li Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he gazed intently at her, as if trying to etch her image into his very being. His dark eyes held a turbulent, suppressed emotion, but ultimately, only a restrained kiss landed gently on her brow.

"wait for me."
-
The news of the Crown Prince's personal expedition did not cause much of a stir in the Liang court.

Li Zhao was known for his decisive and ruthless actions, and his stubbornness was already well-known. There were quite a few court officials who hoped that he would suffer a setback on his trip to the Western Frontier...

So when the decree was issued, some watched coldly from the sidelines, while others secretly rejoiced...

They all maintained a respectful demeanor on the surface, rambling on and on about trivial matters, each harboring their own schemes in their hearts.

Only the censor Zhou Zhengping stubbornly advised the crown prince against taking such a dangerous step, and then threatened to drag his colleagues together to jointly remonstrate with him to the death...

Seeing his stubbornness, Li Zhao felt a headache coming on. He simply said, "The safety of the nation rests on the line. As the crown prince, I have an inescapable responsibility," and then had his mouth shut and sent back to his residence to recuperate, forbidding him from entering the palace.

The entire court was waiting to see the Crown Prince off.

Qi Mingyang assumed the post of military supervisor, overseeing military affairs and deploying defenses to ensure the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince during the expedition...

Unbeknownst to them, Li Zhao had already quietly left the city.

At midnight the following day, eight thousand elite soldiers had quietly assembled at the drill ground on the outskirts of the capital, their armor gleaming, awaiting only a command.

Xue Sui did not see him off.

She stood tall in the shadows of the dense forest outside the drill ground, watching the torches on the ground blaze and illuminate half the night sky.

"Miss, would you like to come closer?" Xiao Zhao asked softly, gazing at the throng of people in the distance.

"I'm not going," Xue Suian said quietly.

"Then... perhaps you should go and say a few words to His Highness the Crown Prince?" Ruyi said anxiously, tugging at her sleeve, her voice choked with emotion. "This trip could take at least three months, or even half a year... with all the dangers lurking around, who knows what we might encounter? Are you really so careless, Miss?"

She was a girl who couldn't hide her feelings, and she started wiping away tears as she spoke.

Xiao Zhao quickly grabbed her and lowered her voice.

"Be careful not to disturb the Imperial Guards, or they might mistake you for a spy and take you away, causing trouble for the young lady."

The two were pulling and tugging at each other, saying something that Xue Sui couldn't hear clearly.

She was slender, standing on a large blue stone, gazing intently at the distant firelight, her clothes fluttering as if she were about to blend into the night.

"set off!"

The command broke the silence of the long night.

In the firelight, a tall, imposing figure, seated on horseback, emerged from the front of the ranks, sword drawn, his cloak billowing in the wind. His posture was imposing; the light reflected from his black armor flowed along his shoulder line, and his jawline was taut as if cast in iron, exuding a menacing sharpness.

The sound of horses' hooves mingled together.

The wilderness was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness.

Eight thousand elite Xuanjia cavalry, like a lurking black dragon, plunged into the vast night, or like thunder rolling across the land, galloping towards the perilous western battlefield.

Xue Sui remained standing in the same spot.

Despite the biting wind cutting across my face like a knife.

Only when the sound of horses' hooves faded into the wind, leaving only emptiness in the world, did she slowly raise her hand and gently press it against her heart.

Hanging there was a jade pendant given to him by Li Zhao, which was incredibly hot.

"Let's go back," she whispered, turning her head to look in the direction of the imperial city.

"It's late at night, and those demons and monsters should reveal themselves."
-
Under the same sky, the night enveloped the Prince Duan's residence.

Li Huan stood under the window of his study, looking at the waning moon in the sky. His face was indistinct in the deathly gloom.

Liu Yin stood to the side, looking at Prince Duan's gentle and refined face, and felt a sudden tightness in his heart for no reason.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has left the capital. When... should we make our move?"

Li Huan did not turn around, but his hands behind his back moved unconsciously.

"You say that edict... was it truly His Majesty's own handwriting declaring his intention to depose the crown prince?"

"Your Highness, rest assured." Liu Yin rubbed his hands nervously, suppressing his inexplicable tension, and said in a deep voice, "Although I did not witness it myself, the information is reliable. The edict is hidden in His Majesty's bedchamber... As long as we obtain the edict, and the Crown Prince is away on campaign, we can depose the heir and establish a new one, and the great undertaking can be accomplished..."

　Saying goodbye to July, ladies! Don't forget your money, it's almost gone...

　　Love you all, sending you love.

　　See you tomorrow……

　　(End of this chapter)